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Kayde Strauss
Hayden Mangan, Fort Lewis Athletic Communications
Junior Kayde Strauss (20) has averaged 10 points per game after returning from injury

Skyhawks women's basketball resumes RMAC schedule with road tests

1/8/2025 11:00:00 AM

By: Angela Roberts, Associate AD-Communications
DURANGO, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference grind resumes for the Fort Lewis College women's basketball team this week with a pair of road battles against Western Colorado University and Westminster University.

Last Time Out
The Skyhawks participated in their annual Native American Heritage game last week at the Sun Ute Rec Center. The game was not as competitive as they may have hoped, but it provided an important opportunity to engage the local community and honor our Native American roots.

Fort Lewis ran away with a 114-33 win after shooting 55.1 percent (49-of-89) from the field, compared to Navajo Tech's 20.8 percent (11-of-53) clip. The Skyhawks took advantage of Navajo Tech's 36 turnovers, converting for 54 points off of the mishandles. Fort Lewis outrebounded Navajo Tech 56-27 and tallied 25 assists on the night.

Sophomore Natalie Guanella led all players with 19 points (9-of-14), followed by the trio of junior Deniece Ryan and freshmen Katie Lamb and Claudia Palacio Gámez with 14 apiece. Double-figure scorers were rounded out by senior Livia Knapp (13), senior Darla Hernandez (12), and junior Kayde Strauss (12). Hernandez led the way with eight rebounds, followed by sophomore Trista Hoobler and Lamb with seven each. Lamb added to her stellar night by racking up five assists and five steals.

The win placed the 2024-25 team in the record book in a handful of single game categories:
  • 3rd in most points (114)
  • 2nd in Largest margin of Victory (81 points)
  • 1st in Most Field Goals made (49)
  • Tied for 1st Most Field Goals Attempted (89)
  • Tied for 3rd Most 3-point Attempts (34)
  • 1st in Most Steals (29)

Scouting Western Colorado
The Mountaineers are off to a promising start to the season with an 8-3 overall record and a 3-1 mark in conference play. The team has already surpassed its win total from last season (7) with 16 games left in the regular season. Western Colorado ranks seventh in the most recent version of the South Central Regional Poll and is in a three-way tie for third in the conference.

Western Colorado's success is due to its defense, which ranks first in the league in points allowed per game (57). The Mountaineers limit their opponents to shooting just .355 from the field (1st-RMAC). Additionally, they are the top rebounding squad in the conference at 39.9 per game.

Individually, Rachel Cockman leads the team by averaging 12.6 points per game (.525), followed by Ivey Schmidt at 10.3 per game. Cockman is the leading rebounder, too, with 8.2 per game. Brooklyn Seymour provides solid backup offensively and defensively with 6.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Schmidt is the primary ball-handler and leads all players with 34 total assists.

Fort Lewis is 28-7 all-time against Western Colorado and has earned wins in the four most recent matchups. The Skyhawks claimed a 68-47 road win and 75-66 home win over the Mountaineers last season.

Scouting Westminster University
The Griffins are 2-9 overall and 1-3 in conference play with a 1-6 mark when playing at home. The team is coming off a pair of losses against Colorado School of Mines (83-40) and Seattle Pacific University (75-68). Westminster's two wins have come versus Fort Lewis (61-58) and MSU Denver (54-51).

Westminster ranks last in the conference in points per game (54) and allows 65.6 points per game from its opponents. The Griffins shoot 34.8 percent from the field (14th-RMAC) and 27.3 percent from three (12th-RMAC). Rebounds have the team ranked 13th in the conference with 33.8 per game.

Teuila Nawahine is the lone player in double-figures with 12.4 points per game and 29 made free throws—more than double the next closest player. Abby Conlee follows with 9.1 points per game and a team-high .464 clip from the field. Maunayia Harrigfeld is responsible for 10 rebounds per game with three-straight double-digit rebound games.  

When the teams played in mid-November, Fort Lewis was led by a double-double performance (18 points, 13 rebounds) from Darla Hernandez. Nawahine of Westminster earned 20 points. The game featured 12 lead changes and seven ties until the Griffins ended the game on a 7-0 run to capture the three-point win.

Inside the Numbers
There isn't a team in the country that enjoys turning the ball over, and for Fort Lewis, it has been make-or-break this season. The Skyhawks are 0-8 when they turn the ball over more than their opponent. They are 4-0 when the opposite is true. Fort Lewis is averaging 19.7 turnovers per game to rank 14th in the conference.

Senior Darla Hernandez has been a bright spot in her first season in Durango, compiling five double-doubles while averaging 10.3 points and 8.6 rebounds (6th-RMAC) this season. Fort Lewis recently got junior Kayde Strauss back from injury, and in her two games played she is averaging 10 points per game to rank second on the team. Junior Deniece Ryan follows with 9.7 points per game while shooting .480 from the field. Sophomore Natalie Guanella is the team's most efficient shooter and has heated up lately with a .667 clip from the field and 19 points in her recent outing.

Up Next
Fort Lewis returns home next week with games against South Dakota Mines (1-10, 0-4 RMAC) and Black Hills State (8-3, 4-0 RMAC). Thursday's matchup with the Hardrockers tips at 5:30 p.m. while Saturday's game against the Yellow Jackets is set for 1:00 p.m.
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